Top Richest Men in the World

From influential business leaders like Steve Ballmer to tech innovators like Elon Musk, these men have built their fortunes through wise investments, savvy business choices, and entrepreneurial ventures. Check out our list of the top 10 richest men to see how they achieved their impressive wealth.

10. Steve Ballmer - $123.1 billion

Steve Ballmer, an American businessman and former CEO of Microsoft, has amassed an extraordinary net worth of $123.1 billion. The bulk of his wealth comes from his 333.3 million shares in Microsoft, making him the company’s largest individual shareholder with about 4% ownership. Since joining Microsoft in 1980 as its 30th employee, Ballmer’s fortune has skyrocketed, largely due to his equity stake. Over the years, he has amassed billions through dividends and stock sales, with Microsoft’s annual dividend alone bringing in around $1 billion. Beyond Microsoft, Ballmer made headlines with his $2 billion purchase of the Clippers in 2014. Despite his immense fortune, he stays grounded, still driving a Ford in honor of his father, who was a Ford manager.

9. Sergey Brin - $127.1 billion

Sergey Brin, the co-founder of Google, has an impressive net worth of $127.1 billion. Brin, along with Larry Page, revolutionized the internet with Google, now part of Alphabet, Inc. His fortune is largely tied to his 5.7% stake in Alphabet, the parent company of Google, where his holdings grant him significant voting power. Since Google’s IPO in 2004, Brin has sold shares worth over $10 billion, further inflating his wealth. His wealth isn't just tied to Alphabet; Brin has significant investments in companies like Tesla and 23andMe. Brin’s real estate empire spans luxury properties, including a $13.5 million Malibu mansion and a vast estate in Los Altos Hills. He also indulges in high-end toys, co-owning a $80 million superyacht and a customized private jet. Despite his immense wealth, Brin remains committed to philanthropy, particularly through the Sergey Brin Family Foundation, which focuses on Parkinson’s disease research and other charitable causes.

8. Bill Gates - $130.9 billion

Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, is an American billionaire with a net worth of $130.9 billion. Interestingly, his wealth isn't primarily tied to Microsoft anymore. Although Gates owns around 103 million shares of Microsoft, valued at roughly $38 billion, the majority of his fortune comes from his investment vehicle, Cascade Investments. Through Cascade, Gates has diversified his assets, including significant stakes in companies like Apple, Canadian National Railway, and even becoming the largest private owner of U.S. farmland. Over the years, Gates has earned over $60 billion from stock sales and dividends, which has helped fund Cascade. His vast wealth has allowed him to own luxurious properties like his $147 million Seattle mansion and make substantial philanthropic contributions. Gates plans to give away 99.96% of his wealth, leaving each of his three children with "just" $10 million.

7. Larry Page - $132.7 billion

Co-founder of Google, Larry Page is an American entrepreneur with a net worth of around $132.7 billion as of 2024. His wealth is rooted in the empire he built alongside Sergey Brin, transforming Google into a global powerhouse. As one of the richest tech entrepreneurs, Page's fortune is largely tied to his ownership of around 6% of Alphabet, Google's parent company, which collectively generates more than $300 billion a year in revenue. Beyond Google, Page has strategically managed his wealth, selling approximately $10 billion worth of Alphabet and Google shares since their IPO in 2004. As for personal investments, Page bought a $7.2 million 9000-square-foot home in Palo Alto in 2009 and a $45 million 193-foot yacht named Senses.

6. Warren Buffett - $137.9 billion

Warren Buffett, known as the "Oracle of Omaha," is an American investor and philanthropist with a net worth of $137.9 billion. His fortune is primarily tied to his holding company, Berkshire Hathaway, where he controls roughly 31% of the voting interest and 15.6% of the equity. Through his holding company, Buffet has invested in many companies like The Coca-Cola Company, GEICO, American Express, Bank of America, and Apple. Buffet also has two million shares in Wells Fargo and Seritage Growth Properties. Collectively, Berkshire Hathaway and its investments form 98% of Buffet’s wealth. Buffett's investment acumen is legendary, with his wealth largely accumulated after turning 50. He still lives in the same Omaha house he bought in 1958 for $31,500, now worth $1.2 million. Committed to philanthropy, Buffett has pledged to give away 99% of his fortune, with much of it going to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 

5. Larry Ellison - $167.2 billion

Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle, is an American billionaire entrepreneur who commands a net worth of $167.2 billion as of 2024. His fortune primarily comes from Oracle, the software giant he co-founded, where he retains around 42% ownership. Since Oracle's IPO, Ellison has accumulated an impressive $12 billion from stock sales and dividends. His significant stake in Tesla, initially valued at $1 billion, has seen its worth soar to as much as $15 billion during Tesla’s peak market cap. Ellison's wealth is further bolstered by high-profile investments and a luxurious real estate portfolio. He owns the Hawaiian island of Lanai, purchased for $300 million, and recently acquired the $175 million Gemini estate in Florida. 

4. Bernard Arnault & family - $179.8 billion

Part of one of the richest business families in the world, Bernard Arnault is a French billionaire with a net worth of $179.8 billion. Arnault’s source of wealth comes from his association with the luxury goods company, LVMH, where he serves as the chairman and chief executive. Under Arnault’s leadership, LVMH has more than 60 luxury brands under its belt with total revenues of more than $70 billion a year, with LVMH’s market cap around $384 billion. Arnault and his family own 41% of the LVMH including 97% ownership of Dior. Arnault’s other business ventures include Princess Yachts, two wineries in France, and a 5% stake in Carrefour. Arnault briefly surpassed Elon Musk as the richest person in December 2022, becoming only the third individual in history to exceed $200 billion in net worth.

3. Mark Zuckerberg - $183.8 billion

American Tech entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mark Zuckerberg has a net worth of $183.8 billion as of 2024. Founder of Facebook, Zuckerberg was one of the youngest ever to become a billionaire. American Tech entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mark Zuckerberg has a net worth of $174.5 billion as of 2024. Founder of Facebook, Zuckerberg was one of the youngest ever to become a billionaire. His source of wealth majorly comes from the social media networking site, Facebook, in which he owns more than 400 million shares. Owing to around 13% of the company, Zuckerberg claims a symbolic annual salary of $1. The parent company, now called Meta, also owns other social media platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram, which also contribute significantly to Zuckerberg’s wealth. In addition to his tech empire, Zuckerberg and his wife own around $200 million in real estate worldwide, including prime properties in Kauai, Hawaii, and Palo Alto, California. 

2. Jeff Bezos - $188.8 billion

Jeff Bezos, the American businessmen and space enthusiast, boasts a net worth of $188.8 billion as of 2024. As the founder of Amazon, Bezos transformed a modest online bookstore into a global e-commerce powerhouse. Holding the title of the richest person in the world from 2017 to 2021, Bezos's majority of wealth comes from Amazon.com in which he owns 55 million shares, translating to around 12% of the company’s shares. Bezos initially owned around 80 million shares before a significant 2019 divorce settlement, which saw him transfer $36 billion worth of shares to his ex-wife. Bezos also made early investments in Google, now Alphabet Inc., holding at least $1 billion in its shares.

Apart from Amazon.com, Bezos is also funding his space exploration company called Blue Origins. His real estate empire is equally impressive, featuring $300 million in Beverly Hills properties and prime holdings in Miami’s "Billionaire Bunker." 

1. Elon Musk - $235.9 billion

South African-born Canadian-American businessman, Elon Musk’s net worth as of 2024 is around $235.9 billion, making him the richest person in the world. His fortune primarily stems from his 13% stake in Tesla, worth about 412 million shares and another 304 million exercisable options, totaling roughly 21% of the company. In 2021, his net worth briefly soared to $340 billion, surpassing historical figures like John D. Rockefeller to become the richest person in modern history. Beyond Tesla, Musk owns 43% of SpaceX, which was valued at $180 billion in its latest funding round. Additionally, Musk has sold his company PayPal to eBay for $1.5 billion in the past. He has also invested in The Boring Company, worth $5 billion, and acquired Twitter for $44 billion, though its private valuation has dropped significantly.

These men have used their entrepreneurial skills and strategic investments to not only build their fortunes but also secure their places among the wealthiest individuals on the planet.